Artist working to revitalize back alleys in Burnaby
Back alleys are typically seen as dark and dangerous areas but the City of Burnaby is hoping a local artist can help change that perception – one can of spray paint at a time.
Chris Allen is a professional artist who spends most of his time tattooing out of Grapevine Tattoo. But his love of art sparked his idea to ask the city of Burnaby to help him expand his work onto the city's walls.
"Anything that can brighten up somebody's day, whether it's a surprise wall that they can walk through and see or that they can relate to it's really cool to lend my hand to it."
Working in a tunnel just off Kingsway, Allen is working to transform the grey walls into a colourful walkway.
It's an approach he says makes the space not only vibrant but safer as well.
"I've probably had about four different women of various ages stop and say they love the work but also that they're really excited just because they feel safer on their daily walk to the SkyTrain and home."
Two women walking through the path agreed the new artwork brings life to the neighbourhood.
"Anything to help us feel a little bit more secure. I think it just makes it a bit brighter and makes it a bit safer for sure," one woman said walking by.
It's a plan the city hopes will help revitalize neighbourhoods.
"When you change a visual dynamic of an area, people become more engaged with upkeeping the area, take more responsible for it, take more ownership of it," said Todd Polich, the mural coordinator of the city of Burnaby.
"It's so dynamic and vibrant that it makes people get away from their phones and go check things out. It's the whole element of bringing something beautiful to the community and encouraging the community to keep it beautiful."
Allen's passion for art took off more than 20 years ago, after he decided to get sober. From tattooing to drawing – he creates on any canvas he can find.
"I knew from a young age, whether it was drawing on walls, or in the back of a classroom, or when I started pulling out my brushes and paints that this was my dream," said Allen.
But even though his latest installation is sanctioned by the local government, he says he's been mistaken for a vandal because he uses spray-paint.
"I had somebody call security on me, so security came up and I had to show them my contract," said Allen.
He plans to put a few more hours into this particular art piece before it's complete but hopes he can continue the project and bring colour and beauty to more empty walls around the city.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.